Orissa youngsters laptop to glory

Chess is a game of mind or machine? If the wide-spread use of computer is any indication, chess should be given a new sobriquet that symbolises a balanced combination of both creative mind and information technology. Out of the 21 medals (the maximum by any country) India bagged at the Asian Youth Chess Championship at Teheran earlier this month, three children from Orissa, who contributed one gold and two bronze, say that being equipped with laptops helped them a lot to achieve the continental success. For Debashis Das and Sidhant Mohapatra, who claimed the two bronze medals in boys` under-18 and under-10 categories, it was not to avail the use of computer facility. Reason: they belonged to rural areas and economically weaker segment. Their parents went out of their way to fulfill the need because they realised the difference the machine makes in the game. The difficulties the parents experienced have justified their worth. Bhubaneswar girl Padmini Rout, who emerged champion in girls` under-14 age category of the Asian meet, says that almost all the competitive chess players are using computers. ``Laptop has become an indipensible accessory,`` says Padmini, also a two-time Asian under-12 girls` champion. Describing the role of computer, Padmini says: ``The machine provides access to internet that offers unlimited data on openings, variations, model games, besides information about tournaments and day-to-day happenings in the game.`` According to former Women`s National `B` champion Kiran Manisha Mohanty, computer very much essential for quick analysis of games. ``The speed with which machine provides you data about the game is faster than any other means of learning the game,`` observs Kiran, the first Woman International Master of Orissa. ``Computer is very useful for individual practice and preparation. It acts as your opponent and sometimes as coach,`` says Swayams Mishra, who helped India win the team gold in the World Youth (under-16) chess championship at Singapore a year ago. The advent of computer has reduced dependence on books and literature, the traditional tools to learn and excel in the 64-square game. ``Earlier players were carrying bagful of books to tournaments. But today a laptop in a shoulder bag is proving more than enough,`` points out Vivek Tibarewal, a senior player. ``Moreover, finding good books was not easy and reading them was a time-consuming exercise. In compairision, software are easy to get and educate you faster,`` adds Tibarewal, secretary of Cuttack District Chess Association. Computer has also made chess coaching easy and more effective. ``Coaches are no more giving long lectures to explain points. They are demonstrating everything on the screen with the help of computer. Players are also finding the new method enjoyable,`` says leading Orissa coach Satya Ranjan Patnaik. Playing on-line chess has become a pastime for many. ``With websites offering prize for victory, the game has inspired people to take to computer,`` observes Patnaik. According Tibarewal, chess software has become a familiar product in sports market. ``Over 1,000 CDs are available now,`` he says. Software that the current generation of competitive players are using most is Chessbase and Fritz. ``Chessbase offers 25 lakh model games, while Fritz gives the facility to play against opponents up to the level of a grandmaster,`` explains Swayams. According Padmini, who has been using computer for past two years, Chessbase-10, Fritz-11, Deep Fritz, Rybka, Shredder are Hiracs some of the latest software available in the market. Use of computer provides has some additional benefits for chess players. ``My computer helps me in academics, communication and relaxation as well,`` admits Padmini. On the flip side, excessive use of computer can be detrimental. ``Beginners should not depend on the machine. It hampers their creativity,`` feels Kiran`s father Kishore Mohanty. ``Playing chess on internet for long hours can lead to addiction and cause health hazards. Swayams came close to that point before we changed his habit,`` revealed Dilip Mishra, the boy`s father. Russia`s undisputed world champion Garry Kasparov pioneered use of computer in chess. He is not playing competitive chess any more. But computer is playing a major role in the game now.

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